A man has pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving after two police officers ended up in hospital when they were hit by a Maserati.

Christopher Appleton and Samantha Clark were critically injured when Mohammed Shaikh hit them with the white supercar in the early hours of Sunday December 17 last year.

The officers were on a footpath returning to a marked police vehicle parked on the A406 near Brent Park in Neasden, north-west London, when Shaikh came round a bend and lost control of the car at around 3.40am.

The Maserati mounted the path, colliding with another vehicle and the officers, who were helping colleagues with an unrelated incident at the time, Scotland Yard said.

Mr Appleton was knocked over and is still receiving treatment in hospital, while Ms Clark, who was trapped beneath the car, continues to recover at home.

Shaikh, of Amberden Avenue, Finchley, north London, appeared via video link from Wormwood Scrubs prison to Harrow Crown Court on Tuesday when he made the plea.

The 48-year-old, who wore a white jumper and grey jogging bottoms when he appeared before the court, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He also admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath over the incident.

Commander David Musker said: “This horrific incident is a reminder of the dangers that police officers face. We are really grateful to everyone from the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and medical staff who rushed to our officers’ aid.

“Having to deal with the horrific injuries caused by road traffic collisions is something our officers do on a relatively often basis; but to do so knowing that the people you are rushing to help are members of your own team is really difficult.

“We wish them the very best in their continued recovery.

At the time of the incident, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “It is incidents such as this that act as a stark reminder of the uncertainties of police work and the dangers that officers face every day when they put on their uniforms or start their shifts to go and help the public.”